Question

Ten years ago, the United States and the Soviet Union made the historic decision to open the strategic arms limitations talks, or SALT. The purpose of SALT, then as now, is not to gain a unilateral advantage for either nation, but to protect the security of both nations, to reverse the costly and dangerous momentum of the nuclear arms race, to preserve a stable balance of nuclear forces, and to demonstrate to a concerned world that we are determined to help preserve the peace . . . . If the Soviet Union continues to negotiate in good faith, a responsible SALT agreement will be reached.

–President Carter
State of the Union Address
1979

According to President Carter, what was the purpose of SALT, or strategic arms limitations talks?

To eliminate nuclear weapons entirely

To protect the security of both the Soviet Union and the United States

To state how and when countries could use nuclear weapons

To end the Cold War

Answer 1

To protect the security of both the Soviet Union and the United States.

Carter explicitly says SALT's purpose was to protect both nations' security, slow the arms race, and preserve a stable balance of nuclear forces — not to eliminate all nukes, specify use conditions, or directly end the Cold War.